Plate cylinder clamping means for cylinder printing presses



PLATE CYLINDER CLAMPING MEANS FOR CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1942 June 1944- A, J. CAIIRPENTER, JR 35 PLATE CYLINDER CLAMPING MEANS FOR CYLINbER PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug.20, 1 942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, A J CARPENTER JR PLATE CYLINDERCLAMPING MEANS FOR CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 20. 1942 sSheets- She et s 7 v7 /1//////// 1 V W Patented June 6, 1944 PLATECYLINDER OLAIWPING IVIEAN S FOR CYLINDER PRINTING PRESSES .Albert JamesCarpenter, 31a, Battle Creek, Mich.,

assignor to The Duplex. Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich, a.corporation of Michigan Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,493

' 17 Claims. "('01. 101-378) This invention is a novel stereotype plateclamping means for the plate cylinders of cylinder printing pressesadapted to hold thereon in a positive manner printingplates of ,arcuatelength sufficient to extend more than half way around the platecylinder. Such stereotype plates must be entered on and removed from theplate cylinders by slipping same over an end thereof, and thereiorenecessarily require the use of clamps which 9 from plate engagingposition into retracted posi- 1 tion within the slots of the cylinder,and vice versa, said single means comprising a jack screw mounted in thereduced journal of the plate cylinder and projecting beyond the endthereof, the jack screw being held against axial movement in saidjournal and operating a ring slidably mounted on the reduced end of theplate cylinder, whereby when a wrench is applied to the jack screw, thejack screw will be rotated and ring simultaneously actuating all oftheclip actuators of the plate clips, which latter clamp'the stereotypeplate to the plate cylinder at the reduced end thereof. My inventionthus provides a single wrench lock-up having a range of motion andsturdiness of parts not found in other lock-up mechanisms; and alsoprovides a single point lock-up positioned at the end of the platecylinder journal, the actuating jack screw being the ring will'be movedaxially of the cylinder, the

housed within the plate cylinder journal and =2 moving the entire clipassembly, giving a range of motion thereto limited only by the length ofthe jack screw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of plate clipassemblies operable by a single movable ring in such manner as to permitclamping any length of stereotype plate on the cylinder within the rangeof ring motion, means being provided whereby the first movement of theclips when the ring is moved toward the plate will be upwardly out ofthe slots and subsequent movement in said direction will move the clipsinwardly into clamping position; also when the ring is moved away fromthe plate the initial H movement of the clips will be downwardly intothe slots below the plate supporting surface of the cylinder andsubsequent movement in said direction will move the clips away from theplate,

thus rendering it unnecessary to operate the clip assemblies over thefull range of motion permitted by the jack screw during either the locking or unlocking operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel movable fillerblocks for use in the slots in the plate cylinder, whereby the cylindermay be made to receive a multiplicity of plate lengths. When clampingrelatively long plates on the cylinder there would be unused portions ofthe slots in the plate cylinder below the stereotype plate which slotsnormally house the plate clips. My filler blocks however may be fittedinto the slots, said, blocks being shaped exteriorly to match thecylinder body, and being provided with means for holding the blocks inthe slots so that the outer surfaces of the blocks will be flush withthe cylinder body to prevent bending or warping of the overlyingstereotype plate during printing operations.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enableothers familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and willsummarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novelcombinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation,showing my novel plate clamping means applied to the reduced end andjournal of the plate cylinder of a printing press, and showing the plateclips in clamping position with respect to the stereotype plate, butomitting for the sake of clarity the clip actuators.

. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the parts showni Fig.

g Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section on the line 3-3,

Fig. 2, showing the plate clips in clamping position, also showing theclip actuators.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4,

vFig. 3.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8, Fig- 3.

plate cylinder journal.

Fig. 9. is a transverse section on the line 9-9, Fig. 3.

Fig. is a plan view showing one of the filler blocks positioned within aT-slot of the plate cylinder, the overlying portion of the stereotypeplate being omitted.

The plate cylinder A is adapted to slidably' support arcuate stereotypeprinting plates B of usual substantially tubular form extending morethan half way around the circumference of cylinder A so that same mustnecessarily be slipped over the end of cylinder A when inserting theplate thereon or removing the plate therefrom.

-One end of plate cylinder is provided with the usual fixed plateengaging device (not shown), the opposite end of cylinder Aishown inFigs. 1 and 3) being provided with a series of spaced plate clampingclips designed to engage the adjacent beveled edge B of stereotype plateB in a by slipping over the endof saidcylinder.

As shown, plate Cylinder A forms a plate supporting surface in directcontact with the tubular stereotype plat B, andone end of cylinder A isreduced in diameter as at A topermit' installationeof, my plate clampingmechanism, thereby prOVidilflg a squared shoulder A2 between the portionA and the main body of the cylinder.

Beyond the-reduced portion A is a further reduced journalportion A3 ofthe plate cylinder A carrying antifrict-ion bearing Cdisposed betweenthe portion A3 'and the walls of an opening D in the press frame E, theouter race C of said bearing bein .held against axial movement by ringsF and .Gsecu re'dby bolts H to the frame E as shown, whilethe-inner raceC2 of bearing C is held against axial movement by the shoulder A4 formedbetween the reduced portions A and A3 and, a ring J secured by screws Kor the like passing therethrough and into the end A3 of the The. reducedportions A and A3 of the plate cylinder journals are provided with anaxial bore 2c in which a cross rod 3 extends, said cross-rod passingthrough diametrically opposed slots A6 in the red uced portion A of theplate cylinder and having its-ends entering opposed bores 4a in a ring4, which ring is slidably mounted upon the reduced portion A betweenframe E and the shouIderA'Z of plate cylinder 2, a pin 5'transfixing oneend of cross-rod 3 and passing through theringj and carrying a cotterpin a: or the like as shown inFigs. land 4.

Actuating "member I is rotatably mounted within bore A5 but is preventedfrom axial movement therein, said member having a reduced portion lbpassing through an axial bore J in the ring J and having a furtherreduced portion Ic beyond .the por't ion lb upon which is mounted anantifriction bearing 6, the inner race cc of which is confined betweenthe shoulder formed between the reduced portions Ib--Ic and the hub Idof a guard I which'encl'oses the outer non-circular wrench engaging endId of actuating member I, the inner periphery of guard I being ofsufficiently large diameter to permit a socket wrench or the like toenter the guard and to engage the non-circular end Id. The inner end ofhub Ia of the guard bears against the adjacent end of the inner race 6aof antifriction bearing 6, said hub being fixed in position by a pin 8or the like transfixing the hub and further reduced portion Ie of themember A upon which the hub is mounted. The outer race 6b ofantifriction bearing C seats at one end against the ring J while itsother end is engaged by a ring 9 secured by screws ID or the likepassing through ring 9 and into the ring J as shown in Fig. 1.

By the above construction, actuating member I is rotatably mountedwithin the bore A5 of the plate cylinder journal but is prevented fromaxial movement thereof. When a socket wrench is applied to the end Id ofthe actuating member the latter may be rotated, thereby shifting thejack screw 2 and thereby moving the ring 4, to which ring each of theplate clip actuators is attachedas hereinafter described, the ring 4being moved along the reduced portion A of the cylinder according to thedirection of rotation of the actuating member I. Thus the abovemechanism provides a single wrench lock-up, the same having a relativelylong range of motion, and having exceptional sturdiness of parts in thelock-up mechanism.

The plate supporting surface of cylinder A adjacent shoulder A2 isprovided :with a plurality of spaced T-slots A'I parallel with the axisof the plate cylinder A, said slots being shown more particularly inFigs- 6 and '7, said slots openin through the shoulder A2. Four suchT-slots are shown in Fig. 4; however, a greateror less number of slotsmay be used. Ordinarily however four such slots would be sufficient. Ineach slot A! is a clip actuator of such thickness at its sides that samewill make a sliding fit within the lower wider'portion of the slot AI,as shown in Fig. 7, said actuator II however being of somewhat narrowerwidth than the lower wider portion of the'slot' A'I. Each actuator IIhas an outer narrower central portion I Ia slidably engaging the outernarrower portion of the slot AT, whereby the actuator is slidablymounted in the slot but is prevented from lateral movement therein.

The inner end Nb of each actuator II is inclined inwardly away from thering 4 and towards the axis of plate cylinder A as shown in Figs. 3 and5, and in the inclined face thereof is a T-slot I Ic (Fig; 7) having itswider portion innermost, said T-slot Ilc extending from the lower to theupper edge of the actuator II and being disposed axially thereof.

Each actuator is provided with a tapped bore lid in its outer endreceiving the threaded end of a bolt I2 passing through a bore M; (Fig.3) in'ring 4. said bolt having a head I2a. on its outer end. A washer I3around the bolt I2 engages the inner face of ring 4, and a spacingsleeve I4 is'provided upon bolt I2 between the actuator II and thewasher I3. On bolt I2 between the washer !3 and the sleeve I4 is acoiled compression spring I5 normally urging the actuator II inwardly ofthe slot AI so that the bolt head I2a will contact the outer face ofring 4. Thelength' of the sleeve I4 controls the compressive strength ofspring I5. Each of the slots A'I contains a similar actuator IIsimilarly mounted therein so that thesingl'e unslidable ring 4 willsimultaneously control each of the clip actuators I I.

of the jack screw 2, all of the bolts l2 andclip' Mounted in t e T-slotsIlc of each actuator II is a clip I6 (Figs. 3 and 7) having aT-projection l6a sl-idably engaging the T-slot I I0, whereby the clip I6will be moved upwardly or downwardly in the slot A1 with respect to theactuator II as the latter is moved axially of the slot Al due to thea'ngularity of the inclined face Nb of the actuator, the upper portionof each clip I6 being of widthslightly less than the upper or smallerportion of the T-slot A'I as clearly shown in Fig, 7, while thelowerportion of each clip is of greater width andmovable within thelower wider portion of T-slot A! as shown in Fig. 6. The upper innercorner of each clip A1 is cut out as at I6b a depth somewhat less thanthe thickness of stereotype plate B, and the inner end I6 c of the cutout I6b is beveled to cor-- respond with the bevel B at the end ofstereotype plate'B, whereby when the clips are in the position shown inFig. 3 the edge I 60 will overlap the beveled edge B of stereotype plateB, while the bottom of the cut out I6b will overlie and support theadjacent portion of the said plate B as clearly indicated in Fig. '3.The depth of each clip I6 is such that when the bottom of the clipcontacts the bottom of slot A! as shown in Fig. 5, the upper edge of theclip will lie entirely below the surface of the plate cylinder A, theclip being thus housed completely within the slot A1.

In order to effect the desired movement of the clips I6 when theactuators II are shifted, I provide means for producing a drag againstmovement of the clips I6, the same consisting of friction plugs I6d(Fig. 6) projecting from I the ends of a transverse bore I6e in thelower wider portion of each clip I6 which is confined within the lowerwider portion of the slots A! by the'shoulders Ifiw, said plugs I6ctbeing urged into frictional contact with the sides of the slots A! by aspring I6 interposed between the plugs in the bores ISe, as clearlyindicated in Figs. 6 and S,said plugs l6d thereby setting up africtional drag against the side walls of the slots Al, said opposingaxial movement of the clips I6 in said slots A'I. Since each clip I6 isfitted to the T-slo't llc of the clip actuating member II', which T-slotHe is disposed at an angle to the line of movement of the actuator, thedrag set up by the friction plugs I6d will cause the clip I6 to moveinitially upwardly within the T-slot A'I until the shoulders I69:contact the top of the lower wider portion of the T-slot Al, and then tomove inwardly with the actuator II when the actuator I I is movedinwardly towards the stereotype plate B, and to move initiallydownwardly of the slot Al until the bottom of the clip I6 engages thebottom of the slot Al and then to move outwardly with the actuator IIwhen the actuator is retracted outwardly away from the stereotyp'efplateB.

Since all of the actuators II are operated simultaneously by the singlering 4, when said ring is moved inwardly towards the stereotype plate Bby the jack screw 2, each spring I5, washer I3, sleeve I4 and clipactuator II will be correspondingly moved towards the plate, and due tothe drag of the plugs l6d each clip I6 is initially moved upwardly outof the clot A1 and subsequently moved inwardly into clamping positionwith respect to stereotype plate B as shown in Fig. 3, the springs !5allowing all the clips !6 to apply approximately equal pressures on thestereotype plate. When the ring 4 however is moved away from the plate Bby movement actuators II will be moved therewith, but the drag set up bythe pins I6d of the clips will cause each clip I6 to initially movedownwardly into the slot A'I below the plate cylinder body A as shown inFig. 5 so that the stereotype plate B can be removed from the platecylinder over the tops of the clips I6 which are at that time housedwithin the slots AI below the surface of the cylinder A.

My mechanism allows clamping any length of plate B on the cylinderwithin the range of Imotion of the clip actuators'l I since the firstmovement of the clip I6 when the ring 4 is moved towards the plate is toshift same upwardly into clamping position and then the clip I6 movestoward the plate into clamping position shown in Fig. 3. When the ring 4is moved in the opposite direction the first movement of the clip I6 isdownwardly within the slots A'I below the considerable distance from theshoulder A2 of the plate cylindenso that the plate cylinder can beutilized for multiplicityof plate lengths,and therefore when relativelylong stereotype plates B are mounted on the cylinder considerablelengths of unused portions of the T-slot A! are covered thereby. Tosupport the plate B over said unused portions of slots A1 filler blocks20, Figs. 3, 9 and 10 are used, said blocks 29 being substantiallyT-shaped having upper portions when in position adapted to fit Withinthe narrower upper portions of the slots A! as shown in Figs. 9 and 10,said blocks 20 being of less width than the narrower upper portions ofthe slots and having lugs 26:10 at their ends adapted to enter the loweror wider portions of the slots A1, as shown, said blocks carrying screws2| fitted in tapped bores 20a at thecenters of the blocks, said screwshaving non-circular too-l engaging sockets in their upper ends whereby atool can be inserted into the upper ends of the screws 2| in order toscrew same downwardly to engage the bottom of'the T-slots Al, therebyraising the projecting end portions 26:1: of the blocks 20 until theyengage the tops of the wider lower portions of the slots A'I, as clearlyshown in Fig. 9, in which position the upper end of the filler blockswill conform with the curvature of the plate engaging portion of thecylinder A to form bridges over the slots A1. Thus the filler blocks 26are made to fit the T- slots A1 and are also shaped to match thecurvature of the cylinder A. The filler blocks 26 can be removed from orreplaced in the slots A! by merely loosening. the set screws 2| andturning the blocks through an arc of One or more such filler blocks 20may'be'used in such T-slot, as desired, between the inner ends of theslots Al and the clips It, to provide a continuous surface with theplate cylinder body over the slots AI, thus forming a support for theoverlying stereotype plate B and preventing distortion or sinking-in ofits printing surface under pressure of printing. Prior fillers for thispurpose were removable only at special cut-outs in the plate cylinderbody or through the clip slot after disassembly of other parts toprovide a clear passage. My filler block has projections 28:]: to fitunder the undercut part or the T-slots A3 and is provided with one (ormore) screws 2| which bear on the bottom of the T-slot and force thefiller blo'ck' upwardly into positive contactwith' under-v cut portionsof the slots;- and the blocks cantbe removed easily by loosening screws2! and then turningthe filler blocks'one-quarter turn, since the blocksare-made narrower than the 'openpart' of the T-slot; and radial:clearance .is provided on the ends of the; projections 20:0 on theblocks; Thus myfiller blocks 20ca'n then be lifted straight out of theslots in the plate cylinder: withoutne- 51 no not limit my invention tothe exact form shown in the drawings, for: obviously changes may be madethereinwithin the scope of the claims.

I claim: l l

1. 'In' combination, a plate cylinder having'a cylindrical platesupporting surface and having an axially disposed reduced portion at oneend formingacylinder journal provided with an axial bore; said reducedportion having a slot communicating WiththE inner end of said bore; anactuating member rotatablymcunted in said bore and having atool-engaging end projecting beyond the end of said journal; means'forpreventing axial movement of the memberwithin the bore; an axiallymovable member in the inner end of said bore actuated by the actuatingmember and having cross-rod slidable in said slot a ring slidablymounted on the reduced portion and engaged by the cross-rod; and axiallymovable plate clips carriedb the cylinderand actuated by the ring.

-2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said actuating-memberhaving areduced end; and said means for preventing axia1 movementcomprising an antifrictionbearing on said reduced end; a collar havingan internal annular flange receiving the reduced end; means for securingthe collar to the outer endof the journal; the annular flangemaintaining the outer race of the bearing against the end of thejournal; one side of the inner race engaging the shoulder formed by thereduced end of the actuating memher; and a second collar mounted on thereduced end of the member engaging the opposite side of the inner raceof the bearing.

3. Ina combination as set forth in claim 1 said actuating member havinga reduced end; and said means for preventing axial movement comprisingan antifriction bearing on said reduced end; a collar having-an internalannular flange receiving the reduced end; means for securing the collarto the outer end of the journal; the annular flange maintaining theouter race of the bearing against the end of the journal; one'side ofthe inner race engaging the shoulder formed by' the reduced end of theactuating member; and a cylindrical guard around the tool-engaging endof the actuatingmember having a hub fixed on the reduced end. of themember and engaging the other side of the inner race of the bearing.

4. In a plate cylinder, or the like having guide slots with parallelside walls opening into the surface of the cylinder; an axially movableactuator housed within each slot having a downwardly inclined inner end;means for moving each actuator; a plate clip in each guide slot of lessdepth than the slot and having a correspondingly inclined outer endslidably' mounted on "fromits actuator; means on each clip for exertingfrictional drag on the sidewallsof the guide slot, whereby the-initialmovement of each clip as its actuatoris moved in one: direction will beoutwardly-of the slot to expose its plate engaging portion, andwherebythe initial movement of eachclipjwhen its actuator is moved in the opposite direction will be inwardly of the slot to house the plateengaging portion thereof within the slot; and means for limiting theinitial out- 1 ard andinward movements of the clips.

5. In a plate; cylinder as set forth inclaim 4, saidislotsvbeingundercut, and said means for limiting, the outward and inward movementsof the clips comprising lateral projections on the clips within theundercut portions of the slots, said projections :being of less depththan the undercutlportions.

i 6. In a plate cylinder as set forth in claim 4, said frictional dragmeans comprising plugs slidably mounted in transverse bores in the clipsengaging the sides of the slots, and springs in the bores engaging theplugs.

'7; In a plate cylinder as set forth in claim 4, said slots beingundercut, and said means for limiting the outward and inward movementsof the clips comprising lateral projections on the clips within theundercut portions of the slots, said projections being of less depththan the undercut portions; and said frictional drag means comprisingplugs slidably mounted in transverse bores in the lateral projections ofthe clips engaging the sides of the undercut portions of the slots; andsprings in the bores engaging the plugs.

8 In combination with a plate cylinder as set forth in claim 4, saidguide slots being undercut and filler blocks of less width than theslots arranged transversely of the slots between the clips and the innerends of the slots, each block having projecting end portions enteringthe undercut portions of the slots of less depththan the said undercutportions, theouter faces of the blocks when positioned in the slotsforming continuations of the surface of the cylinder; and setscrewsmounted in tapped bores in said blocks and adapted to engage the bottomsof the slots to maintain the projecting end portions of the blocks incontact, with the upper walls of the undercut portions.

9. In combination, a plate cylinder having a cylindrical platesupporting surface and having an axially disposed reduced portion at oneend; a ring of smaller external diameter than the plate supportingsurface of the cylinder 'slidably mounted on the reduced portion; meansfor moving the said ring; a series of guide slots having parallel sidewalls opening into the plate supporting surface of the cylinder; anaxially movable actuator in each said slot having a downwardly andinwardly inclinedinncr end; a bolt on each actuator passing through thering and having a head engaging the outer face of said ring; lyieldablemeans interposed between the ring and actuators; a clip in each guideslot of less depth than the slot and slidably mounted 'on each actuatorand having a plate engaging porwithin the slot; and means for limitingthe initial outward and inward movements of the clips.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said slots being undercut,and said means for limiting the outward and inward movements of theclips comprising lateral projections on the clips within the undercutportions of the slots, said projections being of less depth than theundercut portions.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said frictional drag meanscomprising plugs slidably mounted in transverse bores in the clipsengaging the sides of the slots, and springs in the bores engaging theplugs.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said slots being undercut,and said means for limiting the outward and'inward movements of theclips comprising lateral projections on the clips within the undercutportions of the slots, said projections being of less depth than theundercut portions; and said frictional drag means comprising plugsslidably mounted in transverse bores in the lateral projections of theclips engaging the sides of the undercut portions of the slots, andsprings in the bores engaging the plugs.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said guide slots beingundercut, and filler blocks of less width than the slots arrangedtransversely of the slots between the clips and the inner ends of theslots, each block having projecting end portions entering the undercutportions of the slots of less depth than the said undercut portions, theouter faces of the blocks when positioned in the slots formingcontinuations of the plate supporting surface of the cylinder; and setscrews mounted in tapped bores in said blocks and adapted to engage thebottoms of the slots to maintain the projecting end portions of theblocks in contact with th upper walls of the undercut portions.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, said means for moving thering comprising an actuating member journaled in the reduced portion andextending beyond the outer end thereof; and means operated by theactuating member for shifting the ring.

l5, In a plate cylinder or the like having T! slots opening into itssurface; a correspondingly shaped axially movable actuator within eachsaid slot having a downwardly inclined inner end provided with anundercut slot; means for moving each actuator; a clip in each T-slot ofless depth than the slot and having a correspondingly inclined outer endprovided with a correspondingly shaped rib slidably engaging theundercut slot in each actuator and having a plate engaging portion;means on each clip for exerting frictional drag on the side walls of thewider portion of each T-slot whereby the initial movement of the clip asits actuator is moved toward the plate on the cylinder will be outwardlyof the T-slot to expose its plate engaging portion and further movementin said direction will bring the clip into plate clamping position, andwhereby the initial movement of each clip when its actuator is moved inthe opposite direction will be inwardly of the slot to house the plateengaging portion thereof within the slot; each clip having lateralprojections adjacent its lower end engaging the wider portions of theT-slots to limit the inward and outward movements of the clips, saidprojections being of less depth than the said wider portions.

16. In a plate cylinder as set forth in claim 15, said frictional dragmeans comprising plugs slidably mounted in transverse bores in the clipsengaging the sides of the wider portions of the T- slots, and springs inthe bores engaging the plugs.

17. In combination with a plate cylinder as set forth in claim 15,filler blocks of less width than the T-slots arranged transversely ofthe slots between the clips and the inner ends of the T- slots, eachblock having projecting end portions entering the wider portions of theslots of less depth than the said wider portions, the outer faces of theblocks when positioned in the slots forming continuations of the surfaceof the cylinder; and set screws mounted in tapped bores in said blocksand adapted to engage the bottoms of the T-slots to maintain theprojecting end portions of the blocks in contact with the upper walls ofthe wider portions of the T-slots.

ALBERT J. CARPEN'IER, J n.

